2025 ANZ Premiership Round 6 of 10: Magic’s 4th and final 15 performance fell short off the Mystics by a two goal difference in Auckland 

2025 ANZ Premiership – Who needs Carys Stythe (she’s a Steel player now in the South) when the Mystics have got Catherine Hall at goal keep? 

Not only she made this position her own with a number of intercepts & deflections but she worked well together at the back two with captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson.

Tayla Earle over at centre also communicated well with her front three as long as they know where the net is with 29 feeds and 13 goal assists – wondered why she wasn’t on the Ferns radar that much? 

She’s been in championship-winning teams before including last year but hey, she makes them click every time Mystics win games despite being a low-scoring/penalty-ridden hour tonight, a win is a win.

The only good thing about the Magic tonight was their mid-court area although a change of breath air up front at least to win the last 15 added a bit of spark too.

Gotta say Georgie Edgecombe not only protected her defense she can also express herself further afield having enjoyed a good last 15 mins at centre.

It’s a pity that Magic were kinda hesitant unfortunately for the most part with their front 2-3 closer to the goal line. It took them a while to get themselves going and took them a long time now to regain what was lost when Magic simply ran out of time.

They shouldn’t time waste like that especially at national elite netball level.

All in all, things may be scrappy but there’s always a winning and losing team out of this one – Mystics win by 2 goals 40-38 at The Trusts Arena in Auckland.

Didn’t know they will be at it again each other this Saturday for week 7 but the other way now in Hamilton.

Elsewhere, good to see the Southern Steel secure a decent enough win v the last-placed Northern Stars two days ago.

But what’s even surprising is that the Mainland Tactix actually got away v the Central Pulse with the win deep down by 11 goals yesterday afternoon over in Christchurch & now they’re currently leading the ANZP ladder with 4 to go.

Thought Pulse would be right up there with the Mystics who had a deep good rivalry over the past few years but they haven’t been good as of late. Also, don’t forget Steel or Magic (if they can sort themselves out with selections and tactics) are not far behind in the race for 3rd by 1-2 points.

Still picking Steel to win 3rd and with Silver Ferns experienced mid-courter Kate Heffernan now back, they know they gotta treat the remaining regular games as if it’s a practice Playoff before hopefully going to play in a elimination final soon enough.

And shoutout to former dual International player in both cricket & field hockey Lesley Murdoch who was back on the call the other day with Tactix v Pulse on Sky Sport.